Arrest warrant for NI's Keith Gillespie

Having heard how there was "no response" when 39-year-old Gillespie was called at Newtownards Magistrates Court, District Judge Mark Hamill on Thursday issued a bench warrant for his arrest.The former winger for Leicester, Newcastle United, Manchester United and still a hero on the Windsor Park terraces, had been due to appear charged with breaching a non-molestation order on 21 January this year by being "in the vicinity of the Hamilton Road".A police officer told the court that he believes he could connect Gillespie, from Ballycrochan Ave in Bangor, to the offence.Judge Hamill said that by failing to turn up to court, Gillespie had breached his bail so he was issuing a warrant for his arrest.Declared legally bankrupt in 2010, Gillespie wrote in his autobiography "how not to be a football millionaire," that he had spent around £7m as part of a gambling addiction.In his playing career, Gillespie earned 86 caps for Northern Ireland having made his debut in September 1994 in a 2-1 defeat against Portugal.He finished his international career in 2008, playing a vital role in the famous 3-2 win against world and European champion Spain at Windsor Park in September 2006 when David Healy scored a hat trick.Signed by Man United as a youngster in 1991, Gillespie played for the Red Devils until he was sold to Newcastle in 1995 where he came close to winning the Premiership title under Kevin Keegan.Following his spell there, Gillespie turned out for Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United and Bradford, before making a shock move to east Belfast club Glentoran in 2009.